Dutton’s Child Care Task Force Reports In 2026, Then Ends

The text as introduced · 575 words

89R11485 RAL-D

By: Dutton
H.B. No. 2646

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the private child care task force.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the

private child care task force.

(b) The private child care task force is established to

study private child care providers in this state and methods to:

(1) reduce the amounts charged for high-quality child

care provided by private child care providers;

(2) increase the availability of high-quality child

care provided by private child care providers;

(3) address issues with wait lists for scholarships to

receive high-quality child care; and

(4) increase the number of families who are able to

receive high-quality child care.

(c) The task force is composed of seven members appointed as

follows:

(1) one member appointed by the governor to represent

the governor;

(2) three members of the senate, appointed by the

lieutenant governor; and

(3) three members of the house of representatives,

appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d) A task force member is not entitled to compensation for

service on the task force but is entitled to reimbursement for

actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing task force

duties. The task force may accept gifts, grants, and donations to

pay for those expenses.

(e) The member appointed by the governor shall serve as the

presiding officer of the task force.

(f) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call

of the presiding officer.

(g) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any

other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call,

videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method. A

meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or

other similar telecommunication method is subject to the

requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government

Code.

(h) The task force shall conduct a study to examine:

(1) the amounts charged for high-quality child care

provided by private child care providers;

(2) the availability of high-quality child care

provided by private child care providers;

(3) wait lists for scholarships to receive

high-quality child care;

(4) methods to reduce the cost to families and

increase the availability of high-quality child care;

(5) strategies to increase the number of

prekindergarten partnerships between independent school districts

and high-quality child care programs; and

(6) methods to strengthen the child care industry.

(i) The task force may request relevant information from the

Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Workforce

Commission, and the Texas Education Agency, and the entity

receiving the request shall comply with the request.

(j) The task force shall develop recommendations to reduce

the amounts charged for and increase the availability of

high-quality child care by private child care providers and

prekindergarten partnerships.

(k) The task force shall develop and submit a written report

on the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the

governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than

November 1, 2026.

(l) The task force is abolished and this Act expires June 1,

2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.